DETROIT (WXYZ) — Elena Herrada with Latin Americans For Social & Economic Development (LASED), tells us a large portion of the community in southwest Detroit is on edge, after learning of the possibility of deportation raids in the community happening this upcoming Sunday.
“Our office is very worried about what this means for families and people who’ve lived here for years. These are proud individuals who call this country their home, and don’t have the opportunity to obtain citizenship,” she says.
Today, we obtained the following statement from the ICE Detroit Field Office:
Due to law-enforcement sensitivities and the safety and security of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, the agency will not offer specific details related to enforcement operations. As always, ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of unlawfully present aliens who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. In fact, 90 percent of aliens arrested by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations component in FY2018 had either a criminal conviction(s), pending criminal charge(s), were an ICE fugitive, or illegally reentered the country after previously being removed. However, all of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and – if found removable by final order – removal from the United States.
While no specifics are being discussed, we’ve learned that a demonstration against the raids is scheduled for Friday at 6 pm in front of the ICE office on Mt. Elliot in Detroit.
Immigrants we spoke with who are concerned for the safety of their loved ones say, this issue must be addressed humanely by taking into account those seeking asylum and refugee status.
